Women's Soccer Championship Field Finalized

Tufts Claims Top Seed on Final Day of Regular Season

HADLEY, Mass. - When the dust settled on the final day of the regular season, Tufts University emerged as the top seed in the 2005 NESCAC Women’s Soccer Championship. The Jumbos, by virtue of a 1-0 victory over Connecticut College and a loss by Williams, earned the right to host the semifinals and finals of the 2005 Championship. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, November 5, followed on Sunday, November 6, by the championship in Medford, Mass. First round action for the seven-team tournament kicks off on Sunday, October 30.

Entering Saturday’s action, a number teams were still vying for a shot at a first round bye and the top seed in the tournament. While Tufts (11-2-1, 6-2-1 NESCAC) tied with Amherst (8-3-2, 6-2-1 NESCAC) atop the NESCAC standings, it is Tufts that holds the tiebreaker, as the Jumbos defeated the Lord Jeffs 3-1 on Saturday, September 24 in Medford. 2002 was the last time that Tufts hosted the NESCAC Women’s Soccer Championship, earning a 3-0 victory over Williams to capture the crown.

Amherst’s victory over rival Williams on Saturday, 1-0, gave the Jeffs the number two seed for the third consecutive year. The Jeffs will play host to seventh-seed Colby (7-2-4, 3-2-4 NESCAC) on Sunday, after a 2-2 draw between the Mules and the Bobcats of Bates. Colby finished the regular season tied with Middlebury (7-5-2, 4-3-2 NESCAC) for sixth place, however Colby is relegated to the seventh seed due to Middlebury holding the tiebreaker for more conference wins. Amherst and Colby played to a scoreless draw on Saturday, October 15, in Waterville, Maine. Amherst was shocked at home during last season’s championship, falling 1-0 to then seventh-seed Connecticut College. This will be the first time that Amherst and Colby have met in the tournament, and only Colby’s second appearance since holding the seventh-seed during the 2000 championship.

Bowdoin (9-4-1, 6-3-0 NESCAC) secured the third seed on Saturday after defeating Wesleyan 5-0 at home, witnessing Williams fall to Amherst and Bates coming up even with Colby, 2-2. The Polar Bears will host the upset-minded Panthers of Middlebury on Sunday, as the lone meeting between the two squads saw the Panthers come away with a 3-2 victory in Middlebury, Vt. on Sunday, October 2. While both teams have been regulars in the late rounds of the Women’s Soccer Championship, they have never met during the postseason.

Defending NESCAC Champion Williams (9-4-1, 5-3-1 NESCAC) came away with the final hosting slot in the first round, thanks to owning the tiebreaker over fifth-seeded Bates (10-3-1, 5-3-1 NESCAC). The Ephs won the October 8 showdown over the Bobcats in Williamstown, Mass., 2-1. Williams, which has appeared in the semifinal round every year since the tournament format was adopted in 2000, has never faced Bates in the NESCAC Tournament.

2005 NESCAC WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Oct. 30 at Higher Seeds
No. 7 Colby at No. 2 Amherst - 12:00 p.m.
No. 6 Middlebury at No. 3 Bowdoin - 12:00 p.m.
No. 5 Bates at No. 4 Williams - 12:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 5 at Tufts
No. 1 Tufts vs. lowest remaining seed - 11:00 a.m.
Remaining first round winners - 1:30 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 6 at Tufts
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m.